Shuttle Risk Was Known, Teacher Says

PHILADELPHIA -- Teachers training for space flight aboard a shuttle very definitely knew the risks, Barbara Morgan, the next teacher in space, said Tuesday.

Morgan, who is the next civilian participant in line to fly in space, said 10 finalists for the teacher-in-space program were told extensively about the dangers of space launch and flight.

``You`ve been reading a lot about whether we as civilians knew the risks. Yes, we do and did know the risks involved,`` Morgan told an audience at the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Morgan, who spoke to researchers and scientists at a symposium on the future of industry in space, described her training and that of Christa McAuliffe. McAuliffe, who was to be the first teacher in space, was killed in the shuttle disaster Jan. 28.

The Idaho elementary school teacher narrated a NASA video documenting the training, in which the teachers are shown listening to the dangers of launch aboard a shuttle.

``We lost seven great people, a Titan rocket and a Delta rocket. When we lost the Delta rocket, they said our technology doesn`t work. Well it does work. We`ll fix what went wrong and we`ll get going,`` she said.

Morgan`s main message was that industry leaders could do a lot to make sure today`s students grow up interested in science.

``Today`s child does not seem to be interested in technology. But there are ways to educate our future scientists. Bring teachers into the workplace, the lab, and let them work with you,`` Morgan said.